Page 69 of Bully's Darkness
I scoff, feeling the rage burning in my chest. “You don’t know me,” I spit, shaking his hands from me. He steps back. “If you did, you’d stop watching me like I’m a fucking China doll.” I push against his chest, but he doesn’t budge. “I’m not going to break, Bully.”
“And this is you, is it?” he asks. “Fucking in an alleyway like a desperate bitch in heat?” I slap him. It’s hard, instantly stinging my palm, and the sound echoes off the walls as silence spreadsbetween us. He’s shocked as he grips his cheek, bringing his eyes to me.
“I forgot you like fucking in secret, Bully. Behind closed doors. Behind people’s backs.”
He grazes his lower lip between his teeth, his eyes burning into mine while he gets control of his anger. “It’s in the past,” he eventually says, dropping his hand from his face. The bright red handprint makes me feel guilty, and I look away. “I’m not that man anymore.” He takes a few steps back. “Now, are you walking or not?”
Things feel strained. Maybe there are words we haven’t said, things we both resent and things we can’t forgive.
Bully followed me around the entire park, a good thirty-minute walk. All from a distance. Not just a few steps back like normal, but a good twenty feet.
And now, he’s in the kitchen, laughing and joking with Bria, like everything is fine. But it’s not, because whenever I step into the room, he goes quiet. He avoids my eyes.And I hate it.
I’m the one who should be mad still.He hurt me.He has no right to act like the wounded party here. And as laughter rings out, it sinks me deeper into a mood.
Another half-hour passes before Bria passes with a bowl of whatever he’s cooked. She offers a smile. “You okay?” I nod, just like I always do when she asks. “I’m gonna eat this in my room,” she adds, disappearing.
Bully appears in the doorway. “I know you’re not eating much right now,” he begins, and my eyes find the faint mark my hand left on his cheek, “but I worked hard. Come,” he orders, holding out a hand.
I reluctantly go into the kitchen, not taking his hand. He sighs heavily, following me.
I stop at the table, which is laid beautifully. Bully pulls out my seat, and I lower into it. “I thought we could change your favourite flowers,” he says, pointing to the spray of pink baby’s breath in the centre. “I asked the florist, and these are popular.” I remain silent as he takes a seat opposite me. “I learned how to cook,” he adds, pointing to the lamb sliced thinly on a serving plate. He lifts a lid on a dish to reveal buttery potatoes and vegetables. “Will you try to eat something . . . for me?” I give a slight nod, and he smiles in relief.
He begins to serve the meat. “I haven’t told the guys I can cook,” he says, almost smiling. “But I might surprise them with a home-cooked curry soon. It’ll blow Birdy’s steak pie out the window.”
He loads my plate with vegetables before settling back in his chair and nodding at me, pushing me to try his food. I carefully pick up my fork and stab it in the meat. I shudder when I picture Dagger again, unable to lift the fork any farther. Bully’s movement grabs my attention as he drags his chair around the table next to me. He takes the fork from my hand and picks up the knife. I watch as he cuts a piece then adds a potato to the fork before carefully bringing it to my lips, waiting patiently until I open up.
I close my eyes as the meat practically melts in my mouth. I haven’t eaten in days, unless you count the dry crackers Bria force-fed me. My stomach growls in appreciation, and Bully smiles, loading up the next forkful.
Bully
Each mouthful feels like a small victory, and when she’s halfway through, she shakes her head. She’s eaten more than I thought she would, and I remain beside her as I finish my own.
I clear the plates then go to the fridge and retrieve the lemon cheesecake. “You’ve always been a dessert kind of girl,” I tell her as I place it on the table. I think I almost see a smile as I take a seat. “And I know how you love lemon gin, so I created a lemon gin cheesecake. I don’t know if that’s a thing, but I figured drinking wouldn’t lead anywhere good, so adding it to a dessert would be the better option.”
I scoop some onto a spoon, raising it to her lips. As she licks it from the spoon, I have to divert my eyes elsewhere. It’s like a slow torture watching her eat when all I want to do is kiss her perfect lips.
“I’m sorry,” she eventually whispers, and our eyes meet. “For earlier. For hitting you.”
I force a smile. It was a shock. Liv has never reacted like that towards me. Her lashing out is just another thing concerning me, like her silence, and like the distant look in her eye whenever I try to reach her.
“Don’t apologise, Liv. It’s the least I deserve for everything I’ve put you through,” I reply, using my thumb to wipe away some of the cream from the corner of her mouth. I lick it clean.
“I left a mark,” she whispers sadly, raising her hand to my face and cupping the cheek she hit.
I glance up and find tears in her eyes. I drop the spoon and turn to face her. “It’s fine. I’ve had worse,” I say, laughing to reassure her. “Any mark on my skin from you is one hundred percent wanted.”
“I don’t want to live here anymore,” she announces, her voice barely a whisper. Her eyes glance to the corner where Dagger had been. “I feel like he’s here. Watching me. Haunting me.”
I hadn’t even thought about that, and I mentally kick myself. “Shit, Liv. Sorry, I didn’t think. I’ll find you a new place,” I say, pushing to stand as I grab my mobile from my pocket.
“No,” she says quickly, grabbing my hand, and I pause. “Can I come and stay at the club?”
It’s not what I was expecting, and I lower into my seat again. “Of course. You know that place is your home too.”
She nods, relief passing over her face. I pull her against me and kiss the top of her head. “Go and pack what you need. I’ll send the guys to clear the place later and put it all in storage.”
“Thank you,” she whispers.
